Fastening machine and wire mounting therefor



Nov. 7, 1933. 'v; A. svENssoN FASTENING momma AND .WI'RE MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed June 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l MAMAMMMA 20 3 NVENT BY 2551mm I Nov. 7, 1933. v. A. SVENSSON 1,934,104

FASTENING MACHINE AND WIRE MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed June' 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N l EN TOk.

A TTORNICY Patented Nov. 7, 1933 NITED STATES PATENT oFFcs FASTENING MACHINE AND WIRE MOUNT EEG THEREFOR Application June 25,, 119311. Serial No. EMfiW 12 Claims. (Cl. lldll3ll) My inventon relates generally to fastening ma chines and more particularly to that type of fas= tening machine which is adapted to secure together a plurality of superposed sheets or layers of paper or other material by staples cut and formed from wire which, in the repeated opera-'- tions of the machine, is automatically fed from a spool in successive and substantially uniform lengths to the proper position for the production of the staples therefrom.

In some aspects the present invention is an improvement over that described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 423,972, filed January 28, 1930, patented Feb. 14, 1933, No. 1,897,625, and entitled Fastening machines. For purposes of illustration my invention will be specifically described herein as applied to a fas= tening or stapling machine which, except for the spool of wire and the mounting therefor, is of substantially the same construction as the machine shown and described in said co-pending appl'cation. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is applicable to machines of other constructions and types.

A machine of the character referred to is provided with a rotatably mounted spool or reel of wire from which the staples are formed, and in each operation of the mach ne a suflicient length of wire for the production of a staple is with.- drawn or unwound from the spool. Experience has shown, however, that when such a machine as heretofore constructed, is operated rapidly or in a jerky manner the increased momentum imparted to the spool is likely to result in the withdrawal or unwinding of an excess length of wire from the spool with consequent loosening of some of the coils on the spool. When the wire in being withdrawn or fed from the spool, is subjected to a sharp sudden pull, there is l kewise a. tendency for a section of the wire on the spool near the point thereon from which the wire extends to the feeding or withdrawing means to become imbcdded or forced between adjacent coils especially in case such coils have already become loosened. Moreover upon cont'nued rapid or jerky operation of the machine, the wire may become so loose on the spool that the coils are likely to shift laterally and to become so overlapped and entangled as to prevent further unwinding or feeding of wire from the spool and therefore proper operation of the machine. The troubles just described become more pronounced when the wire s wound on the spool in such a state of tension that there is a tendency for the some to unwind itself.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, an improved construction and arrange= merit whereby the aforementioned objections will be obviated regardless of the manner in which so the machine may be operated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel self-contained spool unit or mounting which is adapted to be easily applied to a fastening machine and to be readily replaced in the as machine by alike unit, and which when properly applied to the machine, is adapted to cooperate with parts of the machine in obtaining the desirable result indicated above.

A further object of my invention is to provide to an arrangement which is simple in construction and extremely effective in attaining the desired results.

Other objects and features of the invention will be hereinafter more specifically described is and claimed.

For a clearer understanding of my invention, attention is directed to the drawings accompanying and comprising a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of a stapling machine having my invention applied thereto, the parts being shown in their normal positions at the finish of a complete operation of the machine with the actuating lever and the main frame or support for the spool of wire, wire-- feeding means and other parts at the end of their upstrokes; v

Figure 2 is a view of the machine in side ele vation, showing the parts in the positions they occupy at the end of the down strokes of the main frame or support and actuating lever;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation, partly broken away, of my improved unitary spool mounting structure which is designed to be readilyoperatively positioned in and removed from the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the spool mounting looking from the left in Figure 3: and

Figure 5 is a, fragmental view in elevation showing one end portion of the spool or reel comprising a part 'of the structure shown in. Figures 3 andv 4.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the fastening or stapling machine shown comprises a rectangular base I having a peripheral depending flange 1', a pair of similar spaced lugs 2, struck up therefrom adjacent its rear end, and an anvil 3 suitably secured thereto adjacent its forward end. Refer ence character A designates the support or frame forcarrying the spool of wire, the wire feeding means, the staple cutting, forming and driving means and various associated parts, and comprises a casing consisting of two spaced parallel plates 5 connectedat their forward ends by a integral transverse vertical web 7, said casing being open at its top, bottom and rear end. At their rear ends plates 5 have similar projections 8 which extend down through the opening 2' in base 1 formed in the latter by striking up lugs 2 therefrom, and a pin 9 mounted in the lugs 2 and extending loosely through aligned openings formed in the projections 8, serves to pivotally support frame A on the base. The projections are provided at their lower ends withangular forwardly extending arms 8, and two like spiral springs 10 are respectively connected at their ends to said arms and to two similar lugs 11 which are struck from base 1 and extend downwardly at opposite sides of an opening 11' in the latter (only one each of the arms 8, springs 10 and lugs 11 being shown). Springs 10 are under tension and constantly tend to maintain the frame A in its raised position as shown in Figure 1,

upward movement of the frame about pin 9 under the action of said springs being limited by engagement of arms 8 with the bottom of base 1. The side plates 5 of frame A are rigidly maintained in proper spaced relation by the web 7, by the pins or screws 12, 13, and 14 and by the flat metal spacing members 15 and 16, said spacing members having reduced ends or end portions which are engaged with correspondingly sized notches or openings provided in the side plates.

The plates 5 are provided with similar rearwardly extending spaced portions 17 between and from which a spool of wire S is suported, as will hereinafter be more specifically described. The spool of wire S provides the source of supply of the wire from which the staples areproduced in the operation of the machine. The lower spacing member 16 is provided with a rearwardly extending and upwardly curved portion 16' which serves as a guide for the yvire W as it is withdrawn from spool S for advancement in the machine to proper position for cutting and forming the staples therefrom. The means for withdrawing wire from spool S and feeding or advancing the same in the machine, comprises a slide 18 which is mounted for back and forth or reciprocatory movement substantially in a horizontal direction within a suitable guideway provided in the lower portion of frame A. Two similar one-way wire clutches C, C are respectively secured to the spacing member 16 and to the slide 18 at its rear end. When the machine is in operative condition, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wire W extends through both the clutches C C and also through a guide 20 which is carried by and fixed to. the slide 18 and from the forward end of which the wire is directed over and across the front end portion or mandrel 18' of the slide. Each of the clutches C, C is so constructed and arranged that it will permit free advance movement of the wire therethrough in the machine, that is movement of the wire from the rear towards the front of the machineybut will prevent movement of the wire therethrough in the opposite direction. Accordingly, when slide 18 is moved rearwardly from the position" shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Fgure 2,

clutch C will grip and hold the wire against rearward movement therethrough towards the spool which clutch C and guide 20 will slide or move freely with respect to the wire and the latter will be projected from the forward end of the guide over and across the front end portion or mandrel 18 of the slide.

Reference character 22 designates the plunger device for cutting, forming and driving the sta pler produced from the wire in the operation of the machine. This plunger device 22 is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement within-a suitable guideway provided in the forward end portion of frame A, and in such movement imparts reciprocatory movement to the slide 18 through a bell crank lever 24 which is mounted within frame A on the pin or screw 13. The end of one arm of lever 24 has a slot which is fairly closely engaged by a pin 25 fixed to slide 18, while the end of the other arm of said lever has two spaced projections or teeth between which 2. lug 26 provided on the plunger device projects and with which such lug coacts to impart angular movement to the lever and thereby reciprocatory movement to the slide 18 upon ver tical movement of the plunger device. 1

For actuating-the machine, there is provided a long channeled lever 28 which is pivoted at its rear end by the screw or pin 14 to the frame A at a point adjehent that portion of the latter in which spool S is mounted. At its front end, which is located forwardly at the front end of frame A, lever 28 is provided with a handle 29, and intermediate its ends this lever has a pair of similar downwardly extending lugs 30 (only one of whichis shown) which are formed integrally with the sides of the channel piece of the lever and which brace the frame A at the front end portion thereof wherein the plunger device 22 is mounted. Each lug 30 is pivotally connected at its lower end, by a pin 31, to oneend of a link (not shown), and the other end of each such link is pivotally connected to the upper end of the plunger device 22. A compression spring 32 of considerably greater strength than the springs 10 combined, is disposed between lever 28 and frame A and constantly tends to maintain the lever and plunger device in their raised or uppermost position, as shown in Figure 1.

The machine herein shown and described, except for the spool S and its mounting, is of substantially the same construction as that disclosed in my said co-pending application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial No. 423,972, to which reference ismade for a more detailed description.

The springs 10 and 32 normally act to maintain the parts in the positions shown in Figure 1. The frame A is then in its uppermost position providing a deep gap between the anvil 3 and mandrel 18' for insertion of sheets to be fastened together, lever 28 and the plunger device 22 are also in their uppermost positions, and the slide 18 is in its foremost position with its forward end portion or mandrel 18' directly beneath the said plunger device and over the anvil.

In the use of the machine, starting with the parts in their normal positions and with the wire W extending from spool Sjhrough clutches C, C and guide 20 with an end portion of proper length to be formed into a staple projecting from the front end of said guide transversely over the mandrel 18', the sheets P to be fastened together are first inserted in the gap between the anvil 3 and mandrel 18' tothe desired position. Pressure is then applied to the handle 29 of lever 28 sufficient to impart to the latter a complete down stroke. Upon so applying pressure to handle 29, the frame A with the plunger device 22 and all other parts mounted on such frame, including lever 28, are first moved as a unit about pin 9 against the tension of springs 10, the combined strength of which is less than that of spring 32, until the front end of the bottom of the frame engages the sheets P with a pressure suflicient to firmly hold the same in position. Thereafter lever 28 is moved downwardly relative to frame A about pin 14 against the action of spring 32 to the position shown in Figure 2. During the first part of such relative downward movement of lever 28, the plunger device 22 is moved downwardly a distance sufilcient to sever the end portion of the wire which extends from the forward end of guide 20 across the mandrel 18' and to form the severed portion into a staple over said mandrel, without effecting material rearward movement of slide 18; while in the latter part of such movement of the lever further downward movement is imparted to the plunger device so that the latter drives the staple through the sheets P and against the anvil 3 to clench the ends thereof against said sheets and at the same time acts through bell crank lever 24 to move the slide 18 to its rearmost position. As already explained, in such rearward movement of slide 18, the wire W will be held by clutch C against rearward movement and clutch C and guide 20 will slide or move freely back along the wire so that when the slide reaches its rearmost position the forward end section of the wire will extend from the front end of the guide over and across mandrel 18'. Upon now removing the pressure from handle 29, frame A and the parts carried thereby are automatically returned to their normal positions as shown in Figure l, the springs is acting to raise said frame about pin 9 and spring 32 acting to raise lever 28 about pin 14 and thereby to move plunger device 22 to its uppermost position and to reciprocate slide 18 to its foremost position in which the transversely extending forward end section of the wire is lined up beneath the plunger device. In the forward reciproca= tory movement of slide 18, that portion of the "wire in advance of clutch C is moved forwardly with the slide, for said clutch then grips the wire while clutch C exerts no gripping action thereon; also a section of 'wire equal in length to such movement 0:" the slide is withdrawn from the spool 5 due to the pull exerted on the wire by clutch C. The machine may now be actuated again, as described, to produce, drive and clinch another staple.

If spool S were mounted in frame A for rcta= tion about a fixed axis, as in the machine dis closed in said application Serial No. 423,972, fast or jerky operation of the machine would be likely to result in loosening, shifting and overlapping of coils of wire on the spool and other undesirable and objectionable effects, as hereinbefore de scribed. "in order effectively to prevent all such results or effects, I provide improved wire mounting means whereby the spool from which wire is fed in the operation of the machine, is mounted not only for rotation about its axis, but is also yieldingly mounted for bodily movement under the pull exerted by the wire-feeding means on the wire in withdrawing the same from the spool and advancing it in the machine. The means for accomplishing the desired objects also pro vides for constantly exerting a braking action on the spool which must be overcome by the pull applied to the wire before the spool will turn so that the wire will unwind therefrom. The construction and arrangement are such that said bodily movement of the spool has a component which is parallel to the line of pull exerted by the wire-feeding means on the wire where it is withdrawn from the spool, and preferably are such that said movement itself is substantially parallel to said line of pull or the direction of the withdrawal of wire from the spool.

The improved wire mounting means, in a preferred form thereof, comprises the spool of wire S, a U-shaped bracket B on which the spool is supported for rotation about its axis by a shaft or rod 33, a spring brake 34 for resisting rotary movement of the spool, and a wire tension resilient member or spring 35 adapted to yieldingly oppose bodily movement of the spool in response to the pull exertedon the wire by the wire-feeding means. The parts just described are preferably embodied in a unitary self-contained structure or device adapted to be readily applied to and removed from the machine. When such device is applied to the machine bracket B and thereby spool S are pivotally mounted on the spaced portions 1'? of frame A for swinging movement therebetween, as will presently be described.

The spool S consists of a hollow cylindrical hub or drum 37 having reduced end portions 38, and twollke circular end plates or disks 39 respectively mounted on said end portions. The said portions 38 fit closely in center openings 40 of disks 39 and extend a slight distance outwardly of the latter, the ends of said portions being staked over the edges of said openings at a plurality of separated points, as indicated at 43, whereby the disks are rigidly and permanently secured to drum 3'7. The disks 39 are provided with integral spiders extending across the center openings 40, said spiders comprising right angularly disposed arms or strips 41 and substantially circular central portions 42 formed at the intersections of said arms. The arms ll are bent outwardly at 41' where they join the main portions of the dislrs and the latter are provided with cutouts ll at either side of each of said bends, whereby the spiders will clear the respective outer ends of hub 37. An amount of wire W-sufiicient to substantially fill the spool is tightly wound on the drum 3? before the spool is mounted on the bracket E.

Adjacent its ends shaft 33 has reduced portions as which respectively extend with a fairly close fit, through center openings provided in the spider portions 42 of disks 39, whereby spool S is journaled on the shaft. The end portions 46 of shaft 33 are further reduced and respectively extend with a tight fit through openings provided in the legs at of bracket B at points adjacent the ends of said legs, the outer ends of said portions as being staked over at a plurality of spaced points, as indicated at so. The shaft 33 and spool S are thus firmly and permanently mounted in the bracket B between the legs l'l. Adjacent the base 48 of the bracket, legs 4'7 are provided with similar small struck out portions 49 which extend at right angles to said legs and parallel to said base and which are adapted to be disposed in similar L-shaped slots 50 provided in the spaced portions 17 of frame A to thereby pivotally and removably support bracket B and theparts carried thereon from and between said spaced portions.

The spring bralre 34 and wire tension spring 35 are preferably formed as a single member,

said springs being integrally connected at their adjacent ends by a portion 51. This member is rigidly and permanently secured to bracket B in the position shown, as by means of a rivet 52 extending through said portion 51 and the base as oi the bracket. Adjacent its outer end the inner surface of spring brake 3a is faced with a yieldingly material 34' such as felt or the like. The width of spring 34 is substantially equal to the spacing of the spool disks 39 and accordingly the facing 34 is adapted to bear on the outer convolutions of the wire W over the entire width of the roll of wire wound on the spool. Spring brake 34 is so constructed that it is maintained under tension by the engagement of its facing 34: with the wire W so long as there is any wire on the drum 37 or" the spool, and accordingly the operation of the machine always exerts braking action on the spool opposing rotation i thereof.

it is apparent that upon moving the unitary device comprising bracket and the ts carried thereby, to the proper angular position such device may readily be removed from the machine or applied thereto with the pivot portions d9 disposed in the i. slots 58 provided in the portions of the frame sections l'l. When said device is mounted on the machine in operative position, the pivots 49 are disposed in the forwardly extending short sections so of L slots and. the wire tension spring bears against the 3U spacing pin or screw 14*; oi frame a coasts therewith yieldingly to oppose forward swinging movement of bracket B and spool S about said pivots.

When the machine is in operative condition with the unitary device, comprising bracket B and spool S, mounted on the frame A and with wire W leading from the spool and threaded through clutches Q, C and guide 2o, as shown in Figures 3. and 2, the pivots l9 are more remote from the point of withdrawal of the wire from the spool than is the axis of the spool. It is thus apparent that the spool is mounted in the machine for bodily swinging movement inan are or path which has a substantial component parallel to the line of the pull exerted by the wire= feeding means on the wire where it leaves the spool or, in other words, to the direction of withdrawal of wire from the spool, and that, as a matter of fact, said bodily movement of the spool is itself substantially parallel to such line of pull or direction of withdrawal. Upon operation of the machine, it is obvious that before spool E1 will start turning so that the wire will unwind therefrom and be fed forwardly in the machine, sufilcient pull must be applied to the wire to overcome the braking action of spring 34 on the spool. Under such an applied, pull, bracket l3 and spool S will be moved forwardly about pivots 49 against the progressively increasing resistant action of wire tension spring 35 so as to supply a portion of wire and absorb the pull or jerl; on the wire before the latter begins to unwind from the spool. The extent of such movement of the bracket and spool will depend on the relative adjustment of the actions of said springs 34 and 35 and will be approximately proportionate to the pull applied to the wire. Upon cessation of the pull on the wire, spring 35 will tend to move the spool and its mounting rearwardly whereby any looseness in the wire between clutch C and the spool will be taken up. The arrangement Just described not only provides a take-up action for loose wire, but eflectively eliminates the ill eflects,

heretofore indicated, likely result from fast or jerky operation of the machine. The spring brake 34 in addition to coacting with the wire tension spring 35 as indicated, also acts to prevent excessive over-run of the spool (as might be induced by quick operation of the machine and its wire-feeding means), to prevent the coils of wire from becoming loosened during shipment or handling of the spool (this being of particular importance as the wire is usually wound on the spool under a slight tension and has a tendency to unwind itself), and finally to prevent the coils of wire on the spool from changing position and overlapping (this by reason of the provision the yieldin facing which bears on the outer convolution-s of the wire on the spool and readily coniorms to any irregularities in the winding 2 wire).

When, in the operation of the machine, the wire ll becomes wholly unwound from spool E5, the unitary device comprising bracket 3 and said, spool, may be very readily removed from the 11= chine and replacedv by a like device having a l spool of wire.

It is to be understood that struction shown and specifically described erein, is merely illustrative, that such construction is subject to many modification inclu changes in the size, shape and arrangcnie parts, without departure from the spirit of invention or the scope of the appended cla Having now described my invention, claim as new and desire to protect by Patent, is as follows:

in a machine of the class described, a frame, 31s: a spool of wire, feeding means carried by said frame and adapted upon actuation oi the ina chine to withdraw wire from said spool, means whereby said spool is yieldingly mounted in. the machine for bodily movement having a component which is parallel to the line of pull exerted on the wire by said feeding means in withdrawing the same from the spool, and means which normally constantly and yieldingly opposes rotary movement of said spool under the action of said feeding means.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a spool of wire, feeding means carried'by said frame and adapted upon actuation of the ma chine to withdraw wire from said spool, means whereby said spool is yieldingly mounted in the machine for bodily movement having a c inpo the preferred cor.-

,nent which is parallel to the line of pull exerted on the wire by said feeding means in withdrawing the same from the spool, and resilient which normally constantly engages the wire on said spool so as frictionally to oppose rotary incve= merit of the latter.

3. In a machine oi the class described, a frame, a spool of wire, feeding means carried by said frame and adapted upon actuation oi the machine to withdraw wire from said spool, means whereby said spool is yieldingly mounted in the machine ior bodily movement having a component which is parallel to the line of pull exerted on the wire bysaid' feeding means in withdrawing the same from the spool, and a spring strip provided with a yielding surface portion which normally constantly engages outer convolutlons of the wire on the spool whereby rotary movement 14E oi. the spool is frictlonally opposed. 1

4. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a spool of wire, feeding means mounted on said frame for limited movement in opposite directions and adapted in the movement thereof in 15) rea ies one direction to withdraw wire from. said spool, spring means tending constantly to maintain said feeding means at the limit of its movement in the latter direction, means actuatable to efiect movement of said feeding means in opposition to the action of said spring means in the other direction, means whereby said spool is yieldingly mounted in the machine for bodily movement having a component which is parallel to the direction of withdrawal of wire from the spool by said feeding means, and means which normally constantly and yieldingly opposes rotary move= merit of said spool about its axis under the action of said feeding means.

5. in a machine of the class described, a frame, a spool of wire, feeding means carried by said frame and adapted upon actuation thereof to withdraw wire from said spool, means whereby said spool is mounted in the machine for rotation about its axis and also for bodily swinging movement about an axis which is eccentric to the axis of the spool, means for yieldingly opposing such swinging movement of the spool under the action or" said feeding means, and means which normally constantly and yieldingly opposes rotary movement of said spool-about its axis.

8. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a spool or" wire, feeding means carried by said frame and adapted upon actuation thereof to withdraw wire from said spool, a support on which said spool is mounted for rotation about its axis, said support being mounted on said frame so as to be freely removable therefrom while normally adapted for such movement with respect thereto as will be accompanied by bodily' movement of said spool back and forth in opposite directions and in a path having a component which is parallel to the line of pull exerted on the wire by said feeding means in withdrawing the same from the spool, and means carried by said support arranged to coact with a part on said frame for yieldingly opposing such move-- ment of said support and such bodily movement of said spool under the action of said feeding means in withdrawing wire from the spool.

7. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a spool of wire, feeding means carried by said frame and adapted upon actuation thereof to withdraw wire from said spool, a support on which said spool is mounted for rotation about its axis, said support being mounted on said frame so a to be freely removable therefrom while normally adapted for such movement with respect thereto as will be accompanied by bodily movement of said spool back and forth in opposite directions and in a path having a component which is parallel to the line of pull exerted on the wire by said feeding means in withdrawing the same from the spool, means carried by said support arranged to coact with a part on said -frame for yieldingly opposing such movement of said support and such bodily movement of said spool under the action of said feeding means in withdrawing wire from the spool, and means carriedby said support and normally constantly and yieldingly opposing rotary movement of said spool about its axis.

8. In a machine of the class described, a frame,

a spool of wire, .feeding means carried by said,

frame and adapted upon actuation thereof to withdraw wire from said spool, a. support on which said spool is mounted for rotation about its axis, said frame and support'being provided with coacting means whereby the support is mounted on the frame so as to be freely removable therefrom while normally adapted for swinging movement about an axis which is eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the spool, said axes being so spaced that such swinging movement of said support is accompanied by swinging movement of said spool in a path which is substantially parallel to the line of pull exerted on the wire by said feeding means in withdrawing the same from the spool, resilient means secured to said support and adapted to coact with a part on said frame for yieldingly opposing such swinging movements of said support and spool under the action of said feeding means in withdrawing wire from the spool, and spring means secured to said support and arranged to bear, constantly on. the outer convolutions of wire on the spool and thereby yieldingly oppose rotary movement of said spool about its axis.

9. A wire-mounting structure for a fastening machine, comprising a spool of wire, a support on which said spool is mounted for rotation about its axis, said support having means whereby it is adapted to be mounted on the frame of the fastening machine so as to provide for bodily movement of said spool with respect to said too frame, means applied to said support and adapted when the latter is so mounted to coact with a part of said machine yieldingly to oppose said bodily movement of the spool in a given direction, and means also applied to said support and adapted 1105 to constantly and yieldingly oppose rotation of said spool about its axis.

10. A wire-mounting structure for a fastening machine, comprising a bracket, a spool of wire rotatably mounted in a given position on said bracket, said bracket having means whereby it is adapted to be mounted in the fastening machine for swinging movement, resilient means secured a to said bracket and adapted when the latter is so mounted to coact with a part of the machine to oppose such swinging movement of the bracket in one direction, and a spring device secured to said bracket and bearing constantly pressing on outer convolutions of wire on said spool.

11. A wire-mounting structure for a fastening machine, comprising a U-shaped bracket, a spool of wire mounted for rotation about its axis on said bracket and between the legs thereof, said legs being provided adjacent the base of the bracket with means whereby the bracket is adapted to be mounted in the fastening machine for swinging movement, a spring strip secured to the base of the bracket and extending therefrom. over and in spaced relation to said spool, and a spring member also secured to the base of the 30 bracket and extending therefrom over the wire on said spool, said member being in a state of tension and having a portion constantly bearing on outer convolutions of wire on the spool.

v12. A unitary wire-mounting structure for a fastening machine, comprising a U -shaped bracket, a spool of wire mounted for rotation on said bracket in a fixed position with respect thereto and between the legs thereof, said bracket being provided adjacent its base with means for pivotally mounting the bracket on a fastening machine, and a spring strip fixedly secured to the. base of the bracket and having a portion extending from said base over 'and in spaced relation to said spool.

VICTOR A. SVENSSON. 

